Attorney Profiles

The attorneys of Mayer, Antonellis, Jachowicz & Haranas represent businesses, individuals and families throughout the Boston metro west and Worcester County regions of Massachusetts in the areas of business law, divorce, employment law and real estate law.

Practice

Bob Jachowicz’s practice covers a broad spectrum of litigation and estate planning and administration matters. He represents landlords in commercial and residential leasing and eviction matters, employers in Workers Compensation matters, defendants in criminal matters, and parties in civil and probate court trials. Mr. Jachowicz also prepares estate plans, and handles the administration of estates in the probate court. He also has a strong interest in tax issues and tax planning.

Professional Activities

Mr. Jachowicz has a special interest in housing issues, is an elected member of the Southborough Housing Authority since 1990 and represents several housing authorities and local landlords. He has been appointed to several committees in Southborough related to housing and is now a Trustee of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. He also volunteers as a committee member of the Advocates Human Rights Committee and has been a member of that committee since 1988.

Bar Admissions

Practice

Mr. Mayer’s practice focuses on the representation of parties in divorce including the trial of cases involving asset division, alimony, child support, custody and removal matters. He also handles matters involving same sex marriages, paternity cases and issues arising out of cohabitation and appeals.

Mr. Mayer has been engaged in this practice of law since 1977 and has concentrated in this area of family law since 1984. He has earned the designation of Super Lawyer in 2005, 2008 and 2009 by Boston Magazine in the area of Family Law. He is regularly appointed by the Justices of the Probate and Family Court as a Guardian ad Litem, Discovery Master, Parent Coordinator and Commissioner for the Partition of Real Estate.

Mr. Mayer is respected by his colleagues in the practice and by the Justices of the Probate Court for his effective representation of his clients, coupled with his pragmatic approach to solving conflict.

Mr. Mayer’s practice also includes the mediation of cases, frequently upon referral from other counsel.

In addition to his family law practice, Mr. Mayer has served for a number of years as Town Counsel for the Town of Holliston and as counsel to the Framingham Housing Authority.

Professional Activities

Mr. Mayer is a member of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Law Inn of Court, an association of family lawyers and Probate Judges who meet regularly to discuss issues of divorce and probate law. He is a former member of the Massachusetts Judicial Nomination Commission, the Holliston Board of Selectmen and Holliston School Committee.

Practice

Jack K. Merrill specializes his practice in employment law and handles a broad array of business and civil litigation matters. He works in state trial and appeal courts, federal courts, and administrative agencies. Mr. Merrill counsels small companies and individuals on employment and other business matters; handles discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful discharge cases; negotiates and drafts contracts; drafts employment manuals and non-competition agreements; and provides training classes on discrimination, sexual harassment, and related employment matters. Mr. Merrill has an extensive background in practical and intellectual areas of employment law. His legal practice includes private consultations and arguments before administrative agencies and state/federal courts.

Mr. Merrill’s civil litigation practice involves employment and other subject areas, including contracts, partnerships, construction, the environment, and others. He counsels small business in a variety of areas, drafts contracts and leases, and handles eviction cases, guardianship cases, and related issues.

Activities

Mr. Merrill is author of a quarterly employment law newsletter, writes regularly for a local newspaper, and provides employment law presentations to community organizations. He is president of South Middlesex Legal Services, a long-time member of the Framingham Rotary Club, and a member of the South Middlesex Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts state and federal courts.

Education

University of Massachusetts at Amherst, summa cum laude, 1984
Northeastern University School of Law, 1993
MCAD Discrimination Training Certified since 2004

Practice

Peter Haranas’s primary practice consists of Real Estate Law, including commercial and residential transactions, lending, contracts, zoning, leases, foreclosures and general real estate matters. Mr. Haranas is a member of the American Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts. Other areas of practice include Estate Planning, Business Corporations and Landlord/Tenant issues.

Education

Juris Doctor, New England School of Law, 2006
Bachelor of Science, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 2003

Prior to joining Mayer, Antonellis, Jachowicz & Haranas, LLP, Jill was a judicial law clerk for the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court from 1998-1999, serving in Middlesex, Plymouth, Barnstable, Worcester, and Bristol counties. In 1999, she began practicing as an associate attorney with the Framingham firm Lander & Lander, P.C., where she focused exclusively on family law matters.

Jill has been recognized by her peers as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2007 and 2008.